This Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31, hundreds of youth from throughout the Bay Area gathered with community members and families to denounce the atrocities committed against immigrant communities by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Youth demanded an immediate end to all ICE raids, the shutdown of all detention centers, and the creation of real sanctuary cities.

The protest started at 10 am in San Francisco’s Ferry Park (Washington between Davis and Drumm) with blessings from Danza Azteca and community organizer and author Betita Martinez, skull face painting, and other festivities. At 11:30 am, a funeral march made its way to the ICE office at 630 Sansome, followed by a mass rally in front of ICE.

The protest was a response to ICE attacks on immigrant communities, attacks that have taken place even in so-called “sanctuary cities” like San Francisco. The protest also brought attention to the repression and violence faced by immigrant communities during a presidential election season that has seen neither major candidate address the issues facing immigrant families.

Breaking News From 10/31:

2:15pm: In Oakland, 400 people were reportedly prevented from attending the protest because of BART's closure of the Fruitvale station.

2pm: Protesters have surrounded the ICE building on Sansome. Several people have locked down with 55-gallon drums on both ends of the building's driveway, where vans normally load and unload detainees.

11am: BART police have shut down at least three stations - Richmond, Fruitvale, and Coliseum - from which groups of protesters were gathering to commute to the protest in downtown San Francisco. At least three protesters were arrested in Richmond. Some trains were delayed, and others were bypassing Fruitvale and Coliseum stations.